Stewart armed with local knowledge for tilt at feature Gold Coast double

Warwick Farm today, as has been the case for many Sydney summer programs, has the appearance of a picnic meeting. So punters should seek the more attractive Gold Coast pastures, which promise to feature the blossoming talents of jockey Brad Stewart.

Perhaps the feature Gold Coast meeting is the Magic Millions next Saturday but today's $25,000 Bat Out Of Hell Quality and $100,000 Gold Coast Stakes are interesting sprints.

Stewart, one of the best jockeys in Queensland, is a developing talent with a penchant for the tight Gold Coast circuit. He has the opportunity to put it to full use on Star Of Florida (Bat Out Of Hell) and Consular (Gold Coast Stakes).

Star Of Florida is a speedball but this was hardly evident at his past two starts in Melbourne in which he was beaten a combined total of more than 30 lengths at Caulfield and Flemington.

Trainer Pat Duff is convinced the four-year-old doesn't handle the Victorian way of going and a recent Deagon barrier trial indicated the horse hadn't taken any of his Melbourne problems home.

Star Of Florida, with Stewart aboard, won a 900-metre heat by 13.5 lengths on December 18.

The sprinter has a 61-kilogram equaliser today but that is neutralised by the short journey, 900m. Weight takes more of a hold over longer distances.

Considering what Star Of Florida has taken on in the past, the opposition today isn't strong, with Masindor, a seven-year-old and recent Eagle Farm winner, one of the major dangers.

Masindor, like Star Of Florida, is a leader but has to come from gate 10 while the favourite has gate six, ideal for Stewart to exploit his tactical pace.

Stewart hasn't fared as well at the barrier with Consular drawn in 13, but the jockey did ride him to success from 14 in the Goldmarket, a listed 1400m Gold Coast sprint, last August.

Consular, a dual acceptor also entered in the Bernborough Stakes at Doomben, must come back to 1300m under 59kg today but his two starts after a spell for Stewart have indicated he is ready to win.

Consular gets back in the field, which is usually a hurdle at the Gold Coast, but connections have indicated the fast pace there will suit him better than the anticipated Doomben tempo.

VERDICT: Stick with Stewart - Star Of Florida and Consular. GENERAL ELECT: Should Consular come out of the Bernborough Stakes as anticipated, General Minolta's task will be considerably easier.

General Minolta finished only 14th in the Villiers, 1600m, at Randwick on December 20 but was blocked for a run in the straight. From his previous four starts General Minolta scored three times in Brisbane and notched a close third to Spinning Con over 1500m at Rosehill.

Spinning Con has confirmed the merit of that form.

Possibly his main dangers today are Make Mine Magic, burdened with 61kg, and Deuxieme, trained by Bryan Guy.

Make Mine Magic, a seven-year-old, has been racing particularly well over shorter journeys but his navigator, Glen Colless, can't afford any mistakes on him under the huge weight, particularly from gate 13, while Deuxieme has one gate inside him. VERDICT: General Minolta to come out on top in this battle.

HOT STREAK: Jockey Clare Lindop - with seven rides, most of which will rely considerably on her ability - is the major drawcard at Morphettville today.

Lindop has kicked home four winners on a program three times recently, including at Victoria Park on Thursday, but most of her mounts today are hardly form horses. Punters may have to wait until late to cash in on her winning streak with Accost in the Toro Australia Handicap, an 1100m sprint for three-year-olds.

Accost will clash with Shablec, which looked promising indeed in winning a 1000m dash at Cheltenham on December 26. VERDICT: Lindop's mount Twisted Dream will have supporters in race six, but Accost seems her best chance.

SMART PAIR: Maybe the Moonee Valley program isn't much superior to the one at Warwick Farm but it does have at least two promising horses - Royal Harlequin (New Year Plate) and Abdullah (Golden Doubles Flying).

Trained by Lee Freedman, Royal Harlequin has a double cross of brilliance being by Danehill out of Isca, a dazzling mare over short courses. The colt won at Mornington on December 16 to mixed reviews. Royal Harlequin is expected to face strong opposition from Kentucky Wildcat, which was third to The General down the Flemington straight 1000m on December 20.

Later Abdullah, a highly talented three-year-old, will take on older sprinters but should be up to the task. Abdullah confirmed his potential by easily downing Critical List, no slouch either, over 1200m at Flemington on November 1 and has indicated he is just as comfortable - and good - at Moonee Valley.

VERDICT: Try Royal Harlequin unless deeply in the red. The best way to bet with Abdullah may be the exacta - Abdullah-Boy's Talk.